Crystal and Forge - Presents

[x-aerial.livejournal.com]

Crystal brings Forge a surprise present and gets an unexpected one in return.



"Here. Present." Floating straight past the pile of mail that awaited her, Crystal dropped the watch-like device on Forge's desk unceremoniously. "Angel killed it. Enjoy."

Glancing up from his newspaper, Forge picked up the small device. He tilted his head one way, then the other, then reached into a desk drawer for a small jeweler's loupe. Fitting it over one eye, he inspected the device closely. "Nanometer-pulse inhibitor technology. Oh, this is brilliant. Evil, of course, but brilliant nonetheless. You bring me such wonderful toys. And you said Angel killed it? Well, of course, the emitters are completely polarized, that took some phenomenal control on her part, I'd imagine. Who was unlucky enough to get this hellish little machine strapped to them?"

Crystal gave Forge an odd stare. "How do you think I happened upon that horrible device? This is what I was forced to wear so that I was unable to do anything to try to take out the guards, escape, or defend the other students and Dani. I could not use my powers to help Jennie, Marius, and Kyle, and now I was unable to use them to help anyone this past weekend. Of course, this time I also had a broken leg, so I could not even attempt any sort of a physical attack."

"Relax, you girls did fine from what I hear," Forge didn't look up to acknowledge Crystal's glare, turning the inhibitor over in his hands, then producing a small probe to pry open the back casing. He perused it closely, then frowned. "Oh, she fused the emitter diodes, they're absolutely useless. Pity, I'm running low on nanometer-wave emitters. You say they only had one inhibitor and they used it on you specifically? Interesting. Then again, you're the most highly-trained out of your peer group, although they couldn't have known that. Anyway, all's well that ends well, right? Ooh, platinum microcoils, now that's inventive. Not the most efficient configuration, but adaptable. It'd be an act of vandalism to dismantle you." Forge smiled and twirled the probe in his fingers. "But that won't stop me..."

"They recognized me. The fact that I am a mutant is not a secret; it is not hard to guess that I would have been trained in the use of my powers. I also sent a few of the hijackers flying, although I am not sure that they knew who did that. No hand gestures or movements are necessary when I use my abilities." Crystal observed Forge's love-fest with the inhibitor with a slightly amused expression. "I suppose I should leave you two alone, then. I figured you might be able to find some use for it, and I certainly do not want it."

"Yeah, I'd noticed that. The hand thing. Puts you one up on Jean, you know. Queen of the Gesture Crutch. Hmm. Erik does that too, come to think of it." Forge laid the inhibitor down on his desk, removed the loupe, and looked up at Crystal. "I know they've probably told you this already, but you ought to be proud of yourself."

"I doubt gestures are necessary for them, either," Crystal commented. "I have done my share of hand gesturing, but I recognize the fact that they are not actually needed in order for me to utilize my abilities. Abilities that were taken out twice in one month. Some people appear to attract kidnapping; my new claim to fame is having my powers suppressed." She shrugged lightly. "I will be out of here in two days. I do not think that I have to be afraid of such a thing happening before those two days are over."

"Well, don't jinx it!" Forge teased as he stood up and walked around his desk. "Busy time for you, though. Graduation, then back to Attilan for the big engagement ball? I did RSVP, didn't I?" He absently patted his pockets and looked around on his desk for the invitation, then slapped his forehead. "Right, week before last, because I had to make sure my medical papers were in order for customs. I hate that, I do. But it should be fun - never been to a royal gala before."

"I am leaving Thursday afternoon," Crystal repeated, as Forge appeared to have missed the fact that she'd just said she was leaving in two days. "I will not be attending the school's graduation ceremony. I will come in to sort the mail tomorrow morning, Thursday morning too if you wish, and that will complete my time as a volunteer here. I will see you and many others from New York in two weeks at the palace. I hope that everyone enjoys their stay and the party as well; I believe it should prove to be a unique experience for everyone."

Forge arched an eyebrow. "Not staying for the ceremony? Well." He was silent for a moment, pondering how to take that. "You will be missed. You've been a great help here, and I certainly hope it's been an interesting year, and not all in the horrible way."

"No, it has not been entirely horrible," Crystal said, beginning to look through the mail. A small smile played upon her lips as she looked back up at Forge. "Did you ever uncover the identity of the mastermind who orchestrated the decoration of your car and its appearance in the barn?"

"Not yet," Forge said, a look of stern concentration crossing his face, "but I have my suspicions. I'll have the appropriate response ready when I deduce the culprit, believe me."

With a casual dismissive wave, Forge turned his attention back to his newspaper. "Everything in good time, after all. I'm told revenge is a dish best served cold. Like those weird soups Lorna's so fond of."

"Oh, you want to figure it out on your own?" Crystal asked, then continued sorting the mail. "You do not want someone to tell you who was responsible, or perhaps even have the 'culprit' confess?"

"Where's the fun in that?" Forge said, opening a drawer in his desk and removing a small box. "Which reminds me, since you'll be leaving us early - here." He slid the small box across his desk towards Crystal. "Graduation present, of sorts."

Even when she was completely ready to admit culpability, she was unable to do so. A light wind wrapped itself around the box and floated the present over to Crystal, who looked up at Forge. "Would you like for me to open it now or should I wait and open it later?"

Forge leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers and nodding at the box. "Go ahead. You're leaving early, may as well open it early. Took me a while to figure out what would be most appropriate, but... well, go ahead then."

Crystal was rather curious. She hadn't expected to receive a present from Forge, and she wasn't quite sure what he would have... oh! For a moment, Crystal simply stared at the object in the box. She tilted her head slightly and regarded it with an amused expression before looking back at Forge. "Thank you, Forge. This is a rather unique version of an 'appropriate response.' You have your suspicions now, do you?" For what rested in the box was a miniature Hot Wheels Mazda RX-8 just as Forge's car had looked after it had been plastered with decals.

Forge's serious facade cracked, and a smile appeared. "I wasn't certain until just now. For someone with so much grace and poise, you have this little smile when you're feeling far too pleased with yourself. And I meant what I said before - I am impressed. You managed to, in one fell swoop, understand absolutely everything that goes into the perfect prank. Over the top without being destructive. Creative without being overly silly. Well-orchestrated without being malicious. You got me, you got me good." He leaned forward, elbows resting on his desk. "I know I offended you, and instead of being haughty or throwing a fit, you turned around and put me in my place without me even knowing it. You didn't gloat about it, you didn't try and rub my nose in it, you just kept still until it hit me. That's the work of a master right there."

"Have no fear; I believe I shall quit while I am ahead, and you do not have to worry about any further retaliations on my part," Crystal told Forge. "While I am sure that I could plan them in Attilan and have them carried out here, there really is no need for that, is there? Please do not tempt me to change my mind by insulting me, my family, or anyone else while you are in Attilan, though. Even you have a basic understanding of tact and diplomacy."

"Of course," Forge replied, inclining his head in a polite bow. "I consider it a lesson learned. Along with 'don't offer the Lady a paycheck for volunteer work' and 'don't assume the Lady will be wearing trousers when emerging from under a car'. It's certainly been an educational year. For all of us."

Comments

[x-legion.livejournal.com]

This was great. It's like Xavier's has finally broken Crystal's expectations for the world to make sense. (Forge, of course, having hit that point years ago.)